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Review: In The Mix

In the Mix is of equal interest, because it also flips the script in a challenging fashion certain to make many American audiences uncomfortable. For Usherâ€™s character, Darrell Williams, isnâ€™t exactly a boy-most-likely type, like the practically perfect doctor Sidney Poitier played in Guess Whoâ€™s Coming to Dinner. In fact, not only is Darrell just a struggling DJ, but heâ€™s a jive player whoâ€™s already juggling a few girls

You know that times have certainly changed when you see an American-made movie about a Black DJ from the â€˜hood who steals the heart of the lawyer daughter of a white Mafia kingpin and the brother ends up welcomed into the family rather than swimming with the fishes. But thatâ€™s just what we have with In the Mix, a delightful dramedy which features handsome, R&B heartthrob Usher in his first starring role.

Inspired as much by such mobster comedies as Analyze This and The Whole Nine Yards as by Romeo and Juliet interpretations like West Side Story and Romeo Must Die, this transparent tale makes light of all manner of cross-cultural differences while taking its own sweet time to arrive at its happily-ever-after grand finale. Traditionally, Hollywood has treated interracial screen romances as ill-fated exercises in futility to the point where weâ€™ve been socialized to react to the mere presence of a mixed couple as a source of tension.

I have recognized this deeply-ingrained prejudice in myself most often when watching a film from other parts of the world, especially Arab countries, Brazil or France. What invariably happens is that after a relationship is established between a Black and a white character, I sit there expecting for some issue to be explored revolving around skin color. But then I always feel a little embarrassed when the film ends without ever addressing that as a theme.

In the U.S., however, itâ€™s different, so it generally has fallen to a rebel like Dennis Rodman to be daring enough to flaunt convention. So, in Simon Sez, Dennis, in the title role as a gun slinging secret agent, emerged victorious despite enjoying a steamy sex scene with an attractive white woman along the way. Although the movie didnâ€™t make much money, it nonetheless marked a seminal moment in the history of cinema.

Similarly, In the Mix is of equal interest, because it also flips the script in a challenging fashion certain to make many American audiences uncomfortable. For Usherâ€™s character, Darrell Williams, isnâ€™t exactly a boy-most-likely type, like the practically perfect doctor Sidney Poitier played in Guess Whoâ€™s Coming to Dinner.

Darrell and Dollyâ€™s paths cross when he is hired to play music at a homecoming party being thrown in her honor by her proud papa, Frank Pacelli (Chazz Palminteri) at his restaurant in New Yorkâ€™s Little Italy. Darrell only got the job, because his own late father had been the bartender at Pacelliâ€™s. Itâ€™s lust at first sight for these former childhood acquaintances who hadnâ€™t seen each other in years.

After Darrell takes a bullet intended for Frank during an attempted hit by a competing mob family, the grateful patriarch rewards the act of bravery by hiring him as his daughterâ€™s bodyguard. This inadvertently makes it easy for the two to venture all over the city openly, yet secretly, at least until they are outed by one of Dollyâ€™s spurned suitors.

The moment of truth finally arrives when Pacelli has to wrestle with his own conscience and face the fact that his only objection to their union has to do with Darrellâ€™s being African-American. While waiting for his blessing, look for humorous asides provided in the way of comic relief by a couple of shameless scene stealers, Kevin Hart as Darrellâ€™s clownish best friend, and Anthony Fazio as Black wannabe Frank, Jr.

Still, overall, In the Mix is the type of film which works to the extent that the two leads are able to generate a palpable chemistry between them. And since Usher and Emmanuelle easily achieve that air of authenticity, the movie engages and holds the viewer in the same fashion as the best of the romance genreâ€™.

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